The idea of making a twinning link between Dundee and Nablus arose
after the car of the then Mayor of Nablus, Bassam Shaka’a,
was booby-trapped; he lost his legs and came to the UK to be fitted with
new limbs. There had been trade union links between Dundee and
Palestine for a while, so Dundee Councillor Colin Rennie, Ernie Ross MP
and George Galloway met up with Bassam Shaka’a in London.

It was there that Colin Rennie suggested twinning. On 18th
November 1980 the decision to twin with Nablus was passed by the
District Council - a courageous act in the face of considerable
opposition. Two weeks later Mayor Shaka’a came to
Dundee, where he was welcomed by Mayor Jim Gowans and Ernie Ross MP and a group
of students. He brought gifts, including the shield on display
in Dundee City Chambers.
By December the Palestinian flag was flying in Dundee
alongside those of its other twin cities. Mayor
Shak’a was
later fitted with a second pair of artificial legs in the Dundee Limb
Fitting Centre.

Over the years several visits have taken place between the two cities,
though this has become increasingly difficult. Nevertheless,
in October 1bo6 an official Twinning document was signed in Dundee by Lord
Provost Mervyn Rolfe & Mayor Ghassan Shaka’a. It said:
“By the re-affirmation of the arrangement, the two cities
of Dundee and Nablus pledge that together they will actively co-operate
to ensure the continuing development of close relationships between
their citizens.”

2005 saw the 25th anniversary of the two city twinning. This event was
celebrated with a party and a civic reception in Dundee where Nablus
was represented by three delegates from the projects DNTA has supported
in the city. Meanwhile, the DNTA chairperson was in Nablus, marking the
occasion there. A new document was signed:

“Proud
of the contribution their respective cities have made to international
friendship and understanding the Lord Provost of the City of Dundee and
the Acting Mayor of Nablus wish to reaffirm the twinning treaty. By the
reaffirmation of this treaty the cities of both Dundee and Nablus
pledge that together,
They will actively co-operate to ensure the continuing development of close
relationships between the citizens.
They promise to facilitate the creation of direct links between institutions
and organisations wishing to partake in twinning activity.
They will encourage exchanges between young people to ensure succeeding
generations learn the history of the relationship between the cities and the
role that each has played in its own national history.
They will take every opportunity to share skills and knowledge to the benefit
of their respective citizens.
They undertake to convene regular meetings between representatives in order to
evaluate co-operation programmes.”